United States

A bustling, subtropical city and Africa’s busiest port, Vasco da Gama is said to have sighted Durban Bay on Christmas Day, 1497, naming the land Natal as a mark of respect for the Nativity. The name Durban was acquired in 1843 when Port Natal was renamed for Sir Benjamin D'Urban. Today , Durban delights the traveler with its colorful mosaic of ethnic neighborhoods and memorable excursions to game reserves and the traditional lifestyle of the Zulu people. Explore Old Market Square, the Golden Mile beachfront and the scented Botanic Gardens and Gray Street Mosque, the largest in the southern hemisphere.

Below is a list of those shore excursions previously offered in this port. For information on which shore excursions will be offered on a particular cruise, please reference the specific itinerary of that cruise.

Free Excursions

Regent Choice Excursions

Light Activity /Walking

Seated Tour

Moderate Activity/Walking

Most Active or Strenuous

Minimal Activity Required

Regent Choice

Meal

Evening Tour

Durban City and Coastal Drive

Durban City Tour

Executive Collection Full Day Car

Executive Collection Full Day Van

Executive Collection Half Day Car

Executive Collection Half Day Van

Howick Falls and Ardmore Ceramics

Nelson Mandela Capture Site

Tala Game Reserve

Three Religions Tour

Valley of the Thousand Hills

Durban City and Coastal Drive

Duration: 3 hours

Tour Code: DUR-007

See the landmarks that define Durban (or “Durbs” as it’s affectionately known) on this relaxing driving tour of the city’s historical downtown and stunningly beautiful coastline.

After departing from the pier, you will relax in air-conditioned comfort and watch the best of Durban come into view. Driving down palm tree-lined Victoria Embankment, you will soon come upon the Golden Mile beachfront, where you may see Zulus dressed in colorful headdresses and costumes carrying sightseers around in rickshaws. It’s certainly one of the more unusual sights and a glimpse into the cultural diversity in Durban.

Farther up the coast, you will discover the charms of the beach-blessed village of Umhlanga Rocks and the town of Ballito. You may even spot bottlenose dolphins frolicking and feeding near the shore. So many of them inhabit the waters here that the area is known as the Dolphin Coast.

In time, you will return to Durban and pause for photos at Currie Hill, which offers a sweeping panoramic view of the cosmopolitan city. Upon descending, you will continue past many of the key destinations, including historical Market Square. It has been a gathering place since 1824, when it was cleared to be a trading post for settlers and Zulus.

Before returning to the pier, you will also pass architectural treasures such as the Neo-Baroque City Hall, an ornate post office constructed in 1885, and the Natural History Museum. This latter building from the 1860s is Durban’s oldest surviving structure and was once the courthouse.

Please note: This tour is primarily panoramic in nature with limited walking at the guests’ discretion during any stops. The tour is available to wheelchair guests who have a collapsible wheelchair, are able to make their own way on and off the vehicle and have an able-bodied companion to assist them. Those guests with other mobility concerns are cautioned to carefully evaluate their personal level of stamina and ability and should also have a companion to assist them. Lightweight clothing; sun cap; sunglasses; a bottle of water from the ship; and flat, comfortable shoes are recommended. The tour sequence may vary.